Record and controversies

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Environmental record

In response to criticism that the Congress should lift the moratorium on offshore oil drilling, Clyburn described further domestic oil production as at best a band-aid solution. "I am an ardent supporter of expanding our country's nuclear capacity. Here in South Carolina, more than 50 percent of our electricity is produced by nuclear power. New technology makes nuclear a very safe, and viable energy alternative," Clyburn wrote in an opinion column. Clyburn approvingly sited claims by former Greenpeace activist turned nuclear energy industry consultant, Patrick Moore, that nuclear power is "cost effective". Clyburn sought to point out that in August 2008 he would host a seminar in Charleston titled 'the Nuclear Alternative' "where we will discuss the benefits of expanding this important industry."[3]

Meeting with Howard Dean

On September 19, 2006, Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-S.C.) sent a letter to Clyburn calling on him to appear before the House Ethics Committee to provide details about a conversation he had with DNC Chairman Howard Dean. According to press reports, the two had met the previous month at Clyburn's congressional office, and Clyburn had asked that the DNC provide more money to Democratic candidates running in November 2006 elections. House rules prohibit the use of congressional offices and buildings for any matters relating to campaigning, including fundraising and discussions of campaign strategy. [1]

National security and foreign policy

When the Iraq supplemental spending bill intended to withdrawal U.S. forces from Iraq was being debated in the House, Democratic Whip Clyburn promised not to “whip” votes, citing that it was “a vote of conscience.” Reports, however, indicated that Democratic leaders were strongly pressuring members to support the bill. Out of Iraq Congressional Caucus Chair Maxine Waters (D-Calif.), responded, saying, “Jim Clyburn said he was doing an assessment, so that's what I was doing. Now that he's whipping, I'm going to start whipping.”

Biography

Clyburn was born July 21, 1940 in Sumter, South Carolina. He was educated at South Carolina State College (B.S., 1962) and attended the University of South Carolina Law School (1972-74). Clyburn worked as "a teacher, an employment counselor, and director of two youth and community development projects" before joining the staff of Governor John West in 1971. In 1974 he became the state's Human Affairs Commissioner, a position in which he held until 1992, when he was elected to Congress.[2]

Congressional career

During the 2004 Democratic presidential primaries, Clyburn supported Dick Gephardt until he dropped out of the race. (He later supported John Kerry). Gephardt described Clyburn as "a congressional leader," "particularly on affirmative action and civil rights issues." [3]

Clyburn has been described in the press as a "highly influential South Carolina congressman" and "the state's top black elected official."[4]

According to Clyburn's House biography, he "was co-President of his Freshman class [and] served as Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus' Annual Legislative Conference in 1997 and 1998, and most notably enjoyed rare unanimous support as he was sworn-in to Chair the Congressional Black Caucus for the 106th Congress. It was in that role that Congressman Clyburn led the largest Congressional delegation ever to visit the financial centers of New York's Wall Street and Chicago's LaSalle Street. He moved environmental justice issues to the forefront of the Caucus' agenda and successfully pushed for integration of the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals."[5]

In 2006, following the Democratic victory in the midterm congressional elections, Clyburn was elected House majority whip for the 110th Congress. He had previously been the Chair of the Democratic Caucus. [6]